Before I got my bimmer, the most I had ever paid for a car was $300...

1983 Audi 5000S (First car, given to me by a relative with 150k on it)
1985 Nissan Stanza (Given to me by a relative 120k on it)
1986 Olds Eighty Eight Custom Cruiser wagon (given to me by a relative with ~100k)
1978 Datsun Pickup with an 83(not sure) Ford Ranger bed on it. Ugliest thing you have ever seen.. but only cost me $50
1987 Ford Mustang GT Convertible. Bought it for $300, spent over 5k building a new motor for it and lots of new parts.. still a piece of **** after 2 years of replacing parts. It was fast... but broke down so often I got sick of it.
1999 BMW 323i

I'm hooked now.. there will always be a BMW in my garage.. even if it is my current one... I will always be happy to see the roundel.

Oh, and besides my bimmer, my other project car is a 1966 Nova 2dr hardtop that was given to me in highschool. The guy said I could have it if I got it off his property. Getting it painted this summer. WOOT!